Investing in future tech entrepreneurs

Today we’re a global mining software and consulting business with over 170 employees, but only a decade ago Deswik was a small tech start-up in Brisbane, Australia.

Our history coupled with our commitment to fostering innovation and creativity is why Deswik has joined the River City Labs Accelerator program as an investor. The RCL Accelerator provides funding, mentoring and support to start-ups in Brisbane, with a focus on developing new technology enterprises.

Deswik Technical Director and co-founder Wayne Romer was involved in the selection process as one of the expert entrepreneurs who whittled the contenders from a pool of 70 start-ups to the 10 chosen for the third cohort of the Accelerator program.

Wayne and co-founders Ian Lawler and Adam White understand the challenges and opportunities for small Australian tech firms, having built Deswik from a local business into a global enterprise while weathering the global financial crisis and mining downturn.

That experience continues to inform our business decisions today with an emphasis on meeting client needs and expectations while maintaining a lean operation. Our focus on providing practical solutions to real world problems helps our team stay on track to deliver what matters most. It also encourages us to celebrate the wins and value what each member brings to the team.

As an investor, Deswik will provide funding and mentor support to the selected River City Labs start-ups over the next two years. The RCL Accelerator allows us to give back to the community by sharing the knowledge and expertise acquired through years of experience, to expand and nurture the local programming talent pool.

The third cohort of the RCL Accelerator was selected in October. This cohort of 10 start-ups offers a range of technology solutions from personal services to specialised training and trade support to business process improvement.

Supporting the River City Labs Accelerator is one of the ways Deswik demonstrates our commitment to reinvesting in local industry. We are also a proud supporter of the Austmine Women in STEM: METS Career Pathway Program, which provides on the job training opportunities for women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.